A bit more fun and a lot of work!

Well we have now moved on from Valencia – heading east, but of course we had a bit more fun before leaving.

We visited La Albufera – a lagoon just south of the city where the bomba rice, for which Valencia is famous, is grown.

Dave and Mag came to stay for six nights and, as well as showing them the sights of Valencia and the waterfront,

…… we also took a car trip north to Castello de Sagunto.

Dave finally found a Pizza oven!!!!

It was originally a thriving Iberian community called, believe it or not, “Arse” which was destroyed, in 219BC, by Hannibal – he obviously didn’t like the name! This sparked the second Punic War, which Rome won and a new town, Saguntum, was built.

The engraved stones are parts of funerary and honorary inscriptions.

The small town there was all decked out in its Easter colours – even purple flowers had been planted.

We saw ships old and new visiting the harbour…..

…and made lots of trips to the market…..

and veg – just look at those radishes!

Lovely fruit

Snails anyone!!

So many dates to choose from…

…and lovely hams

Bit macabre – its a processed fish stall!

….where we also took Steve and Gill during their short stay in Valencia before and after their trip back to the UK.

Great coffee at the Panaderia

Whilst they were with us we also came across a building we hadn’t previously known you could visit.

Fantastic ceiling in the upstairs room

A bit of detail – can you see all the little heads?

An amazing fireplace in the main hall

But the over winter 2017/18 Valencia stories would not be complete without my telling you a little bit about the work we did between visitors and visits. It’s amazing when you actually sit down to make a list you realise just how much you have achieved. Over the course of six months we did the following:-

Replaced the bow navigation light and bracket

Fitted a new wash down pump and replaced the deck connection

So much for being told the wash down pump was relatively new!

Fitted a holding tank for the forward heads – including a deck pump out. We “lost” a wardrobe in the process – but who needs one of those!

Pipework done…..

….tank in and braced – you don’t want that coming loose!

Replaced the Italian 240v sockets

Fitted a water-maker

At the same time we replaced and moved the galley seawater pipe and also replaced the galley sink cupboard floor

Water maker pump and filters under the sink

….and still room for all the usual under sink stuff

Removed the old water heater pipes

Move the pressurised water pipe connections to make them more accessible and visible

Rewired the navigation station and built new panels and a created a new cupboard

That does look much more tidy inside

Making the bracket for the SSB

All in place

Cut here….!

A place for everything and everything in place!

Replaced the leaking deck prism

Butyl tape works brilliantly and you can’t see it at all

Serviced the davits and replaced the davit hoist pulleys and ropes

A nice bit of splicing there

Replaced the shore-power socket and rewired the internal shore-power cable

Reverse Polarity switch needed replacing – as you can see

What in heavens name was the previous owner doing…

…and its not as though he couldn’t see from one to the other

Replaced the water tank gauges and senders

Replaced the dinghy grab handle and grommets

Replaced the dinghy outboard fuel tank filler cap

Fitted wire hoist strops to the dinghy

Aha… the trusty hydraulic crimper

Replaced the aluminium exhaust elbow [which came with the engine] with a stainless steel one

Serviced the engine

Had the diesel polished

Replaced the spray hood

Had a lazy bag made to replace the old cover

Serviced the sheet winches and replaced the collets

Serviced the starboard reefing winch

Fitted an AIS

Fitted a new battery charger and a battery monitor

Trying to ensure there is space….

..because the new one is a different shape

now for the shunts and wiring in the house battery compartment

Fitted a dedicated charger for the VHF handheld

Replaced the vented loops in the generator exhaust and the 240v fridge coolant system

Epoxied the fridge door frame

Replaced the catch on rear shower/engine room door

Fitted a handle to the companionway hatch

Marked reefing points on the main halyard and on the reefing lines

Stopped a stern shower tap leak – which had been staining woodwork in the saloon

Made a mattress support [with a little help from Ikea] to allow air to circulate and reduce damp/mold

We had to cut some of the frame and re-staple the tape but it works really well

Whilst doing some jobs – we managed to fit in others

Well I’ve got the angle grinder out….

…so I may as well reshape and sharpen knives which were damaged when Siga Siga sunk

I guess I could go into detail about the work not done, but that would end this blog on a sour note, so I won’t – just suffice to say that our planned bimini and re-designed stern arch work did not happen. This means we are toting around two solar panels and a wind generator in our spare bedroom. Don’t worry forthcoming guests – we can move them to the bunkroom for your visit.

It also means our list for jobs to do in Greece has already started! But, hopefully I will be reporting on many other adventures before then so watch this space.I guess I could go into detail about the work not done, but that would end this blog on a sour note, so I won’t – just suffice to say that our planned bimini and re-designed stern arch work did not happen. This means we are toting around two solar panels and a wind generator in our spare bedroom. Don’t worry forthcoming guests – we can move them to the bunkroom for your visit.

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Claire & Mike

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